Don't post much in wrestling anymore, but I will say I will miss Eddy (yeah, I prefer the old spelling) a lot. He seemed like he was getting it together, but I admit that's what we said when some others passed (Pillman and Spicoli come to mind). So I add my thoughts and prayers for his family.

On this topic though: Two other notes.

1. Someone asked me (because it is known I like wrestling) if Smackdown was just following other shows in killing off their main characters. I tried my best to keep calm and explain that this was a real person with a real family that really died.

2. Looking back at the list of guys who have passed from us suddenly over the years, I'd have to say Eddy was the biggest, in terms of name recognition and current activity. I think we have to discount Andre from that list because it was certainly his disease that took him (although it is certain that his career in pro wrestling advanced it). But Pillman, Bulldog, Spicoli, Candido and others were not in Eddy's league. And Owen was the only one close, in my opinion.

It's very sad for, obviously, his family and friends, but also for us. Once again, we have to get used to seeing a show we enjoy without one of the performers we most enjoy. We'll see angles that Eddy would have made sing limp along without him. And we'll remember how great he was - not just his in-ring ability - but as a master on the stick - a true rarity for a hispanic wrestler (even an American born one) in the states. We'll remember his facial expression and when we say "He cheated to win", we'll think of Eddy fondly. When we see (when he comes back) RVD do the frog splash, we'll remember Eddy's signature move. And compare.

I pray his wife and kids are well taken care of (with independent contractors there is often a lack of some of the basic insurance that employees get from their employers, so if this was the case with Edddie, when it comes time for that benefit card in the future, make sure you're ready to attend and remember his greatness as an entertainer.

Wow. I'm stunned. I have always been a big fan of Eddie. He always had "it". He will be greatly missed. My prayers go out to his family. This sucks on so many levels. I think about how much better the roster of those who have passed on is compared to that of those who are still with us. I am all for tribute shows, but I also plan on "unplugging" and watching the highlight reel in my memories. Rest in Peace, Eddie.

This is just terrible...I've been just stunned speechless (or postless) since yesterday. I was at the parents house watching the Packers game and logged on yesterday to see this news.

My wife saw the look on my face and asked me if I was OK...that's when I knew that I was visibly stunned.

He's only 11 months older than me...granted I never put the stresses on my body that he did, but I did smoke for 15+ years and I'm not even close to being in the shape that he was in. It just shocked me into thinking about how fast it can be over...then I started thinking about his kids (and what my kids would do if I were gone).

For the past 24 hours, I've been hoping it was a sick stupid work. Almost as much as I'd been hoping that Owen was going to be the "higher power".

I just hope that this week's tributes put some perspective on it, and I hope that the younger wrestlers pay attention to his library both for ringwork and mike work.

And TEST makes it sound like it was a drug induced death, all the while combining that with a cry me a river story about himself on his site. He gives minor props to Eddie, but for the most part, it's really dumb. (andrewtestmartin.com).

It was the second story on all four networks 9/10 o'clock in the Twin Cities last evening, with all of them going for a good three-four minutes, covering the press conference with Chavo and Vince. All nicely done and portrayed Eddy as a really nice guy, emphasising that he just celebrated 4 years being clean, which was pretty cool, I thought.

Very sad. Sincere sympathies to his friends and family. It's just awful when someone that young dies so suddenly -- and so unexpectedly. It's terrible that his family didn't have an opportunity to say their last goodbyes, but hopefully Eddie's passing was devoid of any suffering.

It's akin to battling windmills... but it would be nice if something positive could arise from this horrific story. As we all know, a VERY unusual percentage of pro wrestlers fail to live past age 50 -- and the time has long past for those with the greatest influence in the wrestling industry would do something about it...

...other than simply looking the other way, putting on a tribute show, & absolving themselves of blame.

**EDIT***TNA has also acknowledged his death with a simple text graphic at the begining of the Genesis PPV.

(edited by jwrestle on 13.11.05 2005)

That almost made me cry right at my desk at work. Having seen this, the work of one fan, and read the spoilers, I am looking forward to seeing the official WWE tribute, as it ought to be beautiful and befitting of the man.

Fuck, this does suck so much. My roommate saw me sitting on our couch watching WM20 at 230 in the morning last night all teary-eyed, I couldn't explain in the slightest what this meant to me, to anyone who loves this art.

Originally posted by cfgbBut his WWE(F) stint is particularly memorable for so many reasons to me. Him badmouthing The Rock in Spanish on Raw one time during the Invasion.

This probably isn't the time to nitpick - but Eddie wasn't part of the Invasion.... He disappeared from about the time it started until the time it ended, due to an injury, and of course the termination as a result of the drinking. He returned right before Backlash 2002, and took it to the Rock later that summer.

It was around that point he was slated to start feuding with Austin before Austin took off as well ... A feud between the two of them would have been interesting to say the least, bad kareoke bar singing aside. ;-)

Thanks a lot, I totally forgot, I think I got the date mixed up because I taped that promo over an episode of Excess (from the Invasion era) I forgot I had, and sure as hell didn't care for. The promo was actually in 2002, so thanks for correcting me, CFGB. It has to be a really crappy day when even MY memory's a little off, haha. And yeah, I'm still in disbelief.

Called my boyfriend yesterday about noon. Knew something was up from the sound of his voice and when I asked him how he was, he said "stunned". Then proceeded to tell me why.

I bawled like a baby off and on all day yesterday. And will probably continue to do so for the next couple of days. (Hopefully not during the indy show I'll be attending tomorrow night.)

For some reason, these lyrics come to mind:In the arms of the angelFly away from hereFrom this dark cold hotel roomAnd the endlessness that you fearYou are pulled from the wreckageOf your silent reverieYou're in the arms of the angelMay you find some comfort here

I too was shocked to hear about Eddie's passing. He was a consummate professional and worked so hard to shake his demons.

The steroid abuse that was mentioned earlier may or may not be the root cause of Eddie's death, but it damn sure didn't help I would imagine. Let's not forget that Superstar Billy Graham had two artificial hips that he attributes to his own steroid abuse.

The fact that all of us here are saying what a great performer Eddie was and that he was one of the best ever strikes a chord. He stood 5 foot 8 inches tall and yet we all view him as one of the greats. Yet Vinnie Mac looks for 6 feet plus with a chisled frame. Maybe he should look for guys that are workers and have a work ethic instead of glorified body builders.

That almost made me cry right at my desk at work. Having seen this, the work of one fan, and read the spoilers, I am looking forward to seeing the official WWE tribute, as it ought to be beautiful and befitting of the man.

Fuck, this does suck so much.

Amen. I've been looking at all the tributes and each one just tears into me. The video is just so moving.

Originally posted by spf That almost made me cry right at my desk at work. Having seen this, the work of one fan, and read the spoilers, I am looking forward to seeing the official WWE tribute, as it ought to be beautiful and befitting of the man.

Fuck, this does suck so much. My roommate saw me sitting on our couch watching WM20 at 230 in the morning last night all teary-eyed, I couldn't explain in the slightest what this meant to me, to anyone who loves this art.

Yeah, I got teary-eyed watching that video. It's definately a keeper.

And I agree with what you said about WM XX. It would be impossible for anyone who doesn't love wrestling and follow it very closely to understand the real emotion that Eddie and Benoit had when they celebrated having won a fake title. I've always thought that was one of the truly great moments in wrestling history, and like someone said earlier, at least that is how we can remember Eddie - on top of the wrestling world.